The city of Odessa has a new city manager in John Beckmeyer, whom Mayor Javier Joven and municipal leaders formally introduced on Aug. 16. Beckmeyer, born and raised in West Texas, seeks to serve one of the Permian Basin’s major cities well.
“Beckmeyer describes himself as an 'open book,'” the city said in a Facebook post. “He and his wife have long-time roots here in West Texas.”
According to the post, Odessa City Councilman Mark Matta hailed the hiring of Beckmeyer as “a big step” for the community.
“New beginnings, new horizons so we’re excited for it,” Matta said.
Odessa CBS affiliate KOSA Channel 7 reports Beckmeyer, who used to serve as Texas Republican Party director, is in the midst of a 10-day tour of introducing himself to his new team members.
Though Beckmeyer spent time away from West Texas, the station reports, the region always felt like home to him so his new role was seemingly a full circle moment.
“Why Odessa? Odessa is a great town,” he said in the report. “It’s a city and it has so many possibilities. I believe I can help it succeed.”
Per KOSA, Beckmeyer said his résumé includes various leadership positions he asserts qualify him as the right person for his position.
“I get up every morning now and I put on the City of Odessa jersey,” he told the station. “This is what I do. Everyone here is my team member.”
KOSA reports 861 of those team members will work with Beckmeyer, who emerged out of a field of 50 applicants to be voted unanimously for the job by the city council in June.
Councilmembers voted in July to enter into a $238,000 contract with him, according to the station.
Beckmeyer is a 1989 graduate of Sam Houston State University (SHSU) in Huntsville with a bachelor’s degree in animal science, per his LinkedIn page.